April Puppy Showers Bring May Dollars for the Watauga Humane Society

Published Monday, May 14, 2012 at 3:24 pm

May 14, 2012. Deb Flaherty, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) at Watauga Medical Center, is radiating pure joy as she is double-kissed by her newly adopted puppies Daisy Mae (tan) and Lily Belle (black). Deb, who lost her 13-year-old border-collie mix to cancer over a year ago, is so appreciative of the opportunity to give these shelter puppies a loving home. A volunteer that serves on the Watauga Humane Society’s Board of Directors, she is well aware of the recent financial drought that the new adoption center has endured.

Deb Flaherty with her newly adopted pups “Daisy Mae” and “Lily Belle”

With increased operating costs coming off the winter months, an augmentation in housing for over 200 animals on any given day and a seasonal drop in donations, the parched funds to run the shelter had withered.

To help quench this fiscal thirst, Deb, Daisy and Lily teamed up to host an innovative “Puppy Shower” luncheon at the newly constructed Irma Baker Lyon’s Adoption and Education Center on April 29. One hundred people were invited and over 60 friends attended, showering gifts and donations for the shelter. To date, over $1,500 in cash and checks have been donated along with many needed supplies for the animals. The event was fun for everyone and donations are still drizzling in.

Deb and her celebrity pups would like to thank all those who donated and helped to make this event such a wonderful success. Also, special thanks are extended to the luncheon sponsors: Subway, Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods, Ingles and homemade cake designer, Bridget Thompson.

“Everybody wins,” Deb said. “The shelter animals and our community are so richly blessed because of the dedicated compassion and generosity of so many extraordinary people who continue to bring hope to the homeless here in the high country.”

Following is contact information if you would like to host a fundraising event for the Watauga Humane Society or send in a fully tax-deductible donation: Watauga Humane Society, P.O. Box 1835, Boone, NC 28607, phone 828.264.7865 (Tues-Fri 12:30-6pm, Sat-Sun 12:30-5pm, closed Mondays) and http://wataugahumanesociety.org.